This election will also witness those aged 18 to 20, who are automatically registered with the implementation of Undi18, going to the polls as first-time voters.
A total of 173,177 youths aged between 18 and 20 are eligible to vote in this Johor state elections, making them the first in this age group to vote in elections in Malaysia.
There are 1,021 polling stations for the 56 constituencies, for the total of 2,597,742 registered voters in the state.
A total of 36,729 postal ballot papers had been issued by the Election Commission (EC), while 18,625 individuals, or 87% of the early voters comprising policemen, soldiers and their spouses had already cast their ballots on March 8.
For the voting process today, polling centres with one or two channels will be closed earlier as gazetted. They are Balai Raya Pulau Besar in Mersing, which will close at 11am and Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Pulau Pemanggil, Mersing (1pm). Another 15 polling centres will close at 2pm, while 41 others at 4pm.
The remaining polling centres will close at 6pm.
A total of 239 candidates comprising 223 candidates from 15 political parties and 16 independents are contesting for 56 seats in this state election.
The political parties are Barisan Nasional (BN), Perikatan Nasional (PN), Pejuang, Pakatan Harapan (PH), Muda, Warisan, Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM), Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra), and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM).
There will be seven three-cornered fights, 35 four-cornered fights, eight five-cornered fights, four six-cornered fights, and two seven-cornered fights.
The Election Commission has reminded all Johor voters to comply with the SOPs, which include wearing the face mask, using hand sanitiser, recording their attendance, and observing physical distancing.
Voters with Covid-19 symptoms would be allowed to cast their votes at a special tent monitored by health officials, while those categorised as Patient Under Investigation (PUI) and Person Under Surveillance (PUS) must obtain prior permission from the district health officer to go the polling centre.
According to the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia), the weather this morning is forecast to be clear, while thunderstorms are expected in the afternoon in seven districts namely Johor Bahru, Tangkak, Segamat, Muar, Batu Pahat, Pontian and Kulai.